Lakoseljec cup preview
7:34

We interview the men behind the two finalists for this weekend's Lakoseljec cup, set to be a cracker of a match.

The Mercury

05 Jun 2014

News/Tasmania

Steve Corica heads the ball during an A-League match for Sydney FC against Central Coast Mariners. He will line up for Zebras on Monday.Source: News Limited

IN an ambitious bid to overthrow South Hobart for the second time in nine days, the Tilford Zebras have hooked former Sydney FC attacking midfielder Steve Corica for a one-off appearance in the Milan Lakoseljac Cup final on Monday.

The Zebras, who defeated South 3-0 on Saturday night, reeled in the former Socceroo in an attempt to become the first Tasmanian side to qualify for the FFA Cup.

The 41-year-old, who currently coaches Tasmanian keeper Tristan Prendergast as the Sydney FC youth coach, will replace Curran Ferns in an attacking midfield role, as he is cup tied with former club South.

“I am looking forward to pulling the boots on for the Zebras,” Corica said.

“It is certainly interesting jumping straight into the pressure cooker of a grand final but I will try to do a job and hopefully help guide the Zebras into the inaugural FFA Cup.”

As it is a Lakoseljac Cup match, Corica doesn’t come under the marquee banner as in the Victory League and had to be registered to be eligible to play, meaning there is a chance for future games.

He was recruited in part through the Zebras’ connections with Sydney goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac who played a one-off game last year.

Corica currently plays for the Glenwood Redbacks Over-35s in Sydney with former Socceroos Kalac and David Zdrilic, the latter of whom was also targeted by the Zebras before suffering a hamstring injury.

Zebras’ coach Jed Donoghue was pleased to have Corica available for the cutthroat FFA Cup qualification decider.

“We do not discriminate on the basis of age, as long as he’s fit he will play. He’s got skill and experience,” he said.

Corica won 32 Socceroos caps between 1993-2006 and played in the 1997 and 2001 Confederations Cups.

He retired at Sydney in 2010 with 23 goals in five seasons, which remains the third most goals for the club behind Alex Brosque (30) and Alessandro Del Piero (24).

Corica also played in England with Wolves, Leicester City and Walsall and had a stint in the J-League with Sanfrecce Hiroshima after starting out with the Marconi Stallions in the old NSL.